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(No Model.) 6 Sheets-Sheet 1. J. C. FO'WLERZiv E. A. HENKLE. PRINTING MACHINE No. 373,356. Patented Nov. 15, 1887.

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PRINTING MACHINE.

No. 373,856. Patented Nov.'15, 1887;

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No. 373,356. Patented Nov; 15, 1887.

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No. 373,356. Patented Nov. 15,1887.

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J. 0. FOWLER & E. A. HENKLE. PRINTING MACHINE.

No. 373,356. PatentedNov. 15, 1887.

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- j zd arddfi xzle y 1 I v I (W UNITE STATES JOSEPH (L FOWLER AND EDWVARD A.

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HENKLE, OF \VASHINGTON, DISTRICT PANY, OF SAME PLACE.

PRINTING- MACHINE.

SPECIPICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 373,356, dated November 15, 1887. Application filed August 21, 1886. Renewed September 8, 18:7. Serial No. 249,173. (No model.)

To aZZ whom it may concern.-

Be it known that we, JosErH O. FOWLER and EDWARD A. HENKLE, citizens of the United States, residing at Washington, in the District of Columbia, have invented new and useful Improvements in Printing-lilachines, of which the following is a specification.

Our invention relates toprinting-presses,

. and especially to that class of apparatus used for printing tickets, cards, and tags, postalcards, and other similar matter, the principle of operation,however,being applicable to other classes of presses.

It is the purpose of our invention to pro vide a press which shall be capable of a high rate of speed as relates to the number of impressions, which shall automatically feed and discharge the cards, which is capable of a most exact register, whereby it may be used as a color press, and in which the inking-rolls operate upon a novel and simple principle.

Our invention also contemplates new and important improvements in the construction and operation of presses of this class, all of gage pin removed. spective of the clearers for carrying the printed which will be fully described hereinafter, and definitely limited and defined in the claims following this description.

Referring to the drawings, Figure 1 is a side elevation of the machine. Fig. 2 is a side elevation from the opposite side. rear elevation, partly in section, on line a: 00, Fig. 1, the guard-plate being removed. Fig. 4 is a central vertical section of Fig. 3. Fig. 5 is a vertical section on the line y y, Fig. 6. Fig. 6 is a vertical section on the line 2 2, Fig. 5. Fig. 7 is a plan view of Figs. 5 and 6, with the Fig. 8 is a detail percards out of the press. Fig. 9.is a vertical transverse section of one of the beds, feed-fingers-and attachments. Fig. 10 is a plan view of Fig. 9. Fig. 11 is an elevation from the right-hand side of Fig. 10. Fig. 12 is a detail perspective of the bearing-arms of the bed detached.

In the said drawings, the reference-numeral 1 denotes the frame-work of the machine, mounted on any suitable support, as 2. In said framing is journaled a main or power Fig. 3isa or a pulley belted to a power-shaft.

Upon the shaft3 is mounted agear, 5, meshing with a gear, 6, on shaft 7. On the said shaft is a gear, 8, meshing with a gear, 9, on the shaft 10, and outside the gear 8, and on the same shaft, 7, is mounted a sprocket-wheel,11, geared by a sprocket-chain, 12, to a sprocketgear, 13, on an ink-roller shaft, 14, the chain 12 being tightened by an idler, 15.

The shaft 10 carries an impression-cylinder, 6o

16, having a suitably-elastic base or bed of paper or other suitable material tightly drawn over the same in the usual manner.

Upon the shaft 7 is mounted a sprocketwheel, 17, having a chain, 18, meshing therewith and carried by a similar sprocket, 19, on a shaft, 20. The sprockets 17 and 19 are mounted centrally, or substantially so, on their shafts 7 and 20, and are of the same radius, as shown in Fig. 4.

The printing is effected by forms carried by beds connected to thesprocket-chain 18, running on the central gears, 17 and 19, and the construction of these forms andthe chase and bed in which each is carried will first be given, in connection with the construction by which each one is mounted on and carried by the sprocket-chain 18.

By reference to Figs. 3, 4, and 9 it will be seen that upon the sprocket-chain 18 are attached at regular or suitable intervals two, three, or more metallic beds, 22, each having upon its ends journals 23, carrying frictionrolls 23, running in ways 24, formed in the frame-work 1. These ways are shown in Fig. 4, and follow theline of travel of the sprocketchain 18, or substantially so.

Each bed has a table, 25, for the form, which is shown in dotted lines in Fig. 10, and which is received by grooves 26, which are wedging and dovetailed, as shown. The chase is locked on the bed by a screw, 27, tapped through a ing, 28, on the bed and passing through a similar lug, 28 on the chase.

Upon eachend of each bed 22 are formed 5 bearer-rails 29, rounded off at each end, as shown in Figs. 9 and 4, the purpose whereof will be described presently. Just within these shaft, 3, having a balance and crank wheel, 4, 50 v arms or rails 29 are mounted parallel bars 30, pivoted at 31 to the inner faces of said rails. The outer or free ends of these bars are provided with hooks 32, which receive the ends of leaf-springs 33, by which the bars 30 are normally drawn down toward the bed. The free ends of the bars carry a plate, 34, by which they are connected, and upon said plate are mounted two, three, four, or more finger-bars, 35, riveted or otherwise fastened to the plate, and having ends projecting beyond one edge and provided with teeth 36, which project upward, a lug, 37, being formed in front of the tooth on each finger, and having a rounded edge, 37. The height of the teeth 36 isjust equal or practically the same as the thick ness of the cards, tickets, or tags to be fed to the press.

The finger-bars 35 are bent over the rear edge of the plate 34 and drop downward, their ends being forked and having frictionrolls SSjournaled therein. Upon stud-bearings 92, projecting from the inner faces of the stand ards 1, are mounted rolls 93, having their upper edges a little above the plane of the ways 24. Two of these rolls 93 are employed, theiraxes being in a vertical line drawn through the axis of the impressioucylinder. As the beds 22 are broughtsuccessively under the impressioncylinder 16, the flat lower faces of the sides of these beds travel upon said rolls, thereby removing all or nearly all strain from the friction-rolls23and giving a slight upward thrust or lift to the bed itself, whereby a more perfect impression is obtained. This upward thrust is shown in Fig. 4 by the deflection of the sprocket-chain 18.

Upon a rigid support, 39, Fig. 4, mounted on the machine-standards, are arranged plates 40, Figs. 4 and 9, mounted on bufier-springs 41, by which a vertical yield isgiven the plates. The ends of the latter are bent downward at an angle to the body of the plates. These latter are parallel and arranged at a width apart equal to the distance between the rolls 33, though I may employ any desired number of the same, or may use two wider plates or rails, each capable of supporting two or more of the rolls 38.

The feed-box is arranged above the plates 40, and consists of a rectangular casing, 42, resting upon a top plate, 43, and having its lateral walls 44- adjustable toward and from each other, to enable the box to receive cards of various size, the walls 44 being provided.

with cars 45, having slots 46, which receive set-screws 47. The top plate, 43, is provided with slots 48, formed in the same vertical planes with the finger'bars 35, and also with a slot, 49, central between the slots 48. The top plate is adjustable toward and from the front of the machine by means of slots 50, which receive screws 51.

Over the central slot, 49, is mounted a vertical rod, 52, adjustable in threaded bearings 53 on the box 42, and held byabinding-screw, 53. The lower end, 54, of this rod is rounded at the point, and when properly adjusted is brought down just far enough to allow one card to pass beneath it, as shown in Fig. 5. but to arrest all the others. The action of these elements will be further noticed hereinafter.

Just in front of the feed-box 42 is placed a throat-plate, 55, having its edge beveled off to permit the cards to pass freely under it. The space between the plate and the top plate is a tritie greater than the thickness of a card, and the purpose of the device is to hold the card down flat as it passes to the printing mechanism.

5y reference to Fig. 12 it will be seen that the ends of the platc34 project somewhat beyond the bars 30. Upon the under surface of the top plate, 43, Fig. 6, are formed or mounted guides 56, which receive, guide, and support the plate as it passes beneath the feed-box.

In frontof the throat-plate 55 is mounted the impression-cylinder 16, having its journal-boxes 58 adjustable vertically in thestandards 59. This roll is provided with a peripheral bed, 60, formed of paper, and attached in any usual manner. 9

The cards, tags, tickets, or other matter upon which printing is to be done are placed in the feedbox 42, and a weight, 61, of any suitable kindis placed upon them. The press being then operated, the beds 22, carried by the sprocket-chain 18, are successively brought over the rails 40, which engage with and raise the ends of the bars 30, carrying the ends 34 of the plate 34 into the guides 56, and lifting the toothed points of the finger-bars 35 into the slots 48 of the top plate, as shown in Fig. 4. As the bed passes toward the front of the press, the teeth 36 engage the edgeofthc lower card in the feed-box and drive it out, passing under the rod 54 andthroatplate 55. As the card is fully introduced between the form and the impression-cylinder, the rolls 38 pass off the rails 40 and allow the teeth 36 to drop out of the slots of the top plate. The impressioncylinder is driven by the gear 8, meshing with the similar gear 9 on the shaft 10 of said cylinder.

Upon the front of the press is arranged a bar, 62, Fig. 8, having slots 63. Upon the bar are mounted curved clearer-bars 64, having set-screws passing through the slots 63, wherebylateral adjustmentot' the clearer-bars may be effected according to the width of the form used on the bed. The ends of the clearer bars lie in or nearly in the same horizontal plane with the surface of the type, and the form passes between them as it is drawn from under the imprcssioncylinder. The cards or tickets, therefore, are by means of these bars drawn off the form and carried down into the receiver 66. A central guard-plate, 67, is placed above and between the clearer-bars 64 to remove any cards which stick to the platen, should there be such.

The forms are inked from an ink well, 68, on the rear of the machine. In this well revolvcs a roll, 69, the surface of which is cleared by a plate, 70, which may be adjustedtoward and from said roll by set-screw 71. Above this roll is mounted a transferring-roll, 72, journaled in the ends of levers 73, having their fulcrum-points at 74 on the press-frame. The ends of these levers are extended to engage with earns 75, which revolve upon the projecting ends of the shaft 20, which carries the s'procket-gear-19. Springs 76 normally throw the roll 72 toward the roll 69.

The eveningroll 77 is journaled above the transferring-roll 72, and upon the extended end of its shaft it has a disk, 78, set at an angle with its axis and running between frictionrollers 79,,by which a longitudinal reciprocation is given to the roll as it revolves.

Above the evening-roll 77 is mounted the inking-roll 80, having its journal-bearings in curved slots 81, concentric to the axis of the roll 77. Springs 82 normally throw this roll inward or toward the forms.

As the press is operated, the evening-roll 77 is in'constant contact with the inking-roll 80, and it is driven by a sprocket, 13, and chain 12, the sprocket being upon theshaft 14501" the evening-roll. As the forms successively pass over the rear sprocket, 19, the curved ends of the rails or bars 29 on'the bed strike frictionrolls 83 on the shaft of the inking-roll S0, pushing the roll outward just far enough to allow the inked surface of the roll to travel over the type-surface.

The roll 72 is dipped at intervals into contact with the roll 69,-and then raised and thrown against the evening-roll 77. The roll 69 is revolved in the well 68 by means of a pawl, 84, mounted on the end of a vibrating arm, 85, which is linked by a connecting-bar,.

86, to a wrist-pin, 87, on a disk, 88, attached to one of the cams 75. As the disk revolves, a step-by-step rotation is given to the roll 69. The degree of this movement may be increased or diminished by connecting the bar 86 nearer to or farther from the fulcrum of the vibrating arm 85. r 1

A second inking-roll, 89, may be mounted in the frame-work and arranged to move, like the inking-roll 80, in curved slots 90, springs 91 being used to throw the roll inward. When two rolls are used, both are of course in contact with the evening-roll 77, in the manner already described.

It will be seen that by our invention cards, tickets, and other matter may be printed with great rapidity and accuracy. Moreover, in color-printing we are able to get an exceedingly exact register, together with great speed.

By color-printing we'refer, in this connection, to those cases in which two or more different colors are applied by successive impressions, in which operation great accuracy is often necessary in giving the card exact register as it goes through the press the second time.

We make no claim herein to the combination, with the forms having rails or bars on each end, of inking-rolls having their journals supported in curved slots concentric with the axis of an evening-roll, and springs which force said journal supports inward, carrying the rolls toward the form.

Having thus described our invention, what we claim is- 1. In a printing-press, the combinatiou,with a series of beds connected with a chain, of sprockets over which said chains pass, ways in the frame of the press which receive friction-rolls journaled on studs on the ends of the beds, and rolls journaled beneath the impression-cylinder on each side of the press, having their peripheries'above the plane of the said ways, whereby the strain of the impression is taken off the friction-rolls and the bed raised atthe moment impression takes place, substantially as described.

2. The combination, with a' bed connected with a sprocket-chain, of bars pivoted upon the bed, a plate connecting said bars, fingerbars on said plate having feeding-teeth, and a top plate having slots, within which said teeth may travel, substantially as described.

3. The combination, with a bed connected with asprocket-chain, of bars pivotally mount ed on said bed, a plate connecting said bars, finger-bars mounted on said plate, frictionrolls journaled in the depending ends of said finger-bars, and rails lying in the path of said friction-rolls, substantially as described.

4. The combination,with a bed and asprocket-chain with which it is connected, of arms pivotally mounted on said bed, springs drawing said arms toward the bed, finger-bars mounted on a support carried by said arms, rolls 'journaled in said finger-bars, and rails mounted on spring supports lying in the path of said rolls, substantially as described.

5. The combination, with a series of beds and a sprocket-chain with which they are connected, of arms pivotally connected to said bed, springs drawing the arms down toward the bed, finger-bars carried by a support on said arms, rollsjournaled in said finger-bars,

atop plate having slots, and a feed-box mount-' ed on said plate, substantially as described.

6. The combination, with the top plate having slots, of a feed-box having laterally-adjustable walls, a vertically-adjustable bar, and finger-bars carried by pivotally-mounted arms on the beds, the latter being connected,with a sprocket-chain carried by gears, substantially as described,

7. The combination, with the press-beds, of the rails or bars upon the ends of said beds, friction-rolls journaled on studs on the ends of the beds, and an inking roll or rolls having friction-rolls upon its shaft, and a sprocketchain connected with and carrying the beds, substantially as described.

8. The combination, with the series of beds and the sprocket-chain to which they are connected, of the impression-roll and clearer fingers or bars lying upon each side of and sub stantially in the same horizontal plane with the form carried by the bed, substantially as described.

9. The combination, with a series of beds carried by a sprocket-chain, of fingers carried by pivotally-mounted arms on said beds, rolls journaled in one end of said fingers, rails arranged in the path of said rolls, Springs supporting said rails, a feed-box above the rails, an adj ustable bar on the box.a top plate having slots above the rails,and a throat-plate in front of the feed-box, substantially as described.

10. The combination, with the ink-well, of the roll revolving therein, pawl-and-ratchet mechanism for producing such revolution, a roll journaled on vibrating levers, springs throwing said roll in one direction and cams vibrating it in the opposite direction, an evening-roll, and one or more inking-rolls having their journal-supports in curved slots cut concentric with the axis of said evening-roll, substantially as described.

11. The combination, with the top plate having a central slot and one or more parallel slots on each side thereof, of the fBGd'bOX, the vertically-adjustable bar over the central slot, the beds moving beneath the top plate, the pivotallyunounted supports thereon, fingerbars carried by said supports and moving in the slots'of the top plate, and guideways on the under surface of the latter, which receive the ends of the plate carrying the fingenbars, substantially as described.

12. The combination of thebedshaving rails 29, with the pivoted bars 30, springs 33, plate 34, finger-bars 35, having teeth 36 and rolls 38, the rails 40, and the butter-springs 41,substantially as described.

13. The combination, with the beds, of the impression-cylinder and the clearer-bars having lateral adjustment and lying upon each side of the forms, the ends of said bars being bent over toward theimpression-cylinder, substantially as described.

14. The combination, with the series of beds and the impression cylinder, of the clearer arms 64, the bar or plate 62, having slots 63, and the devices, substantially as described, for attaching the clearer-arms, whereby they may be adjusted laterally, substantially as described.

15. The combination,with the top plate, 43, having slots 48 and a central slot, 49, of a feed-b0x mounted on said plate, an adjustable rod, 52, having its end 5; provided with a rounded point, the pivoted arms 30, the plate 34, the finger-bars 35, having teeth 36 and lugs 37, the rolls 3S, and the spring-supported rails 40, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof we affix our signatures in presence of two witnesses.

J. A. RUTHERFORD, Jos. L. COOMBS. 

